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Pact to phase out shoddy lamps

Philips, OSRAM and General Electric signed on Friday a pact to set standards for compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) to rid the Asian market of shoddy energy-saving lights.

Under the new agreement, lighting suppliers in Asia will develop performance levels to rate CFL quality, a system for product marking, and a regional database, so consumers can identify which CFLs meet quality standards. Consumer dissatisfaction with shoddy CFLs is threatening the energy-saving lamps’ spectacular growth in Asia.

The accord, called the “Manila Compact,” was signed on the sidelines of the Asia Clean Energy Forum, sponsored by the Asian Development Bank and USAID. The Asian system will be compatible with existing quality certification systems. — Xinhua